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I bought a 4-year-old VW Golf from a main dealer last May. It is a 1.4GT TSI with 170bhp. I paid a good price. It had 18 inch Charleston Alloys with 225/40 Conti contact tyres. I put two new tyres on soon after due to wear, following strictly the originals, which I always do. I have now had three punctures in six months with the result that I have no confidence in this kind of low profile tyre. I have spoken to the dealer (Inchcape) suggesting that he and VW have responsibility in that they originally specified the tyres on the car that in my view are not fit for purpose. The dealer refutes my suggestion, as does VW Customer Complaints. Do you think I am being unreasonable? I like the car a lot but cannot continue with these wheels despite having four new tyres, which cost north of £600.
Asked on 1 October 2011 by DH, Fyfield
Answered by
Honest John
What's fit for the billiard smooth road surfaces of most of Germany is no use for the UK. I reckon the minimum profile you need is 55, which would tend to mean 16" wheels. A few weeks ago I drove a Mondeo on 18" wheels with 45 profiles to Frankfurt and back, on which trip it was fine. But as soon as I got it onto my 'test route' between Scotch Corner and Hexham, Northumberland, it went to pieces on the bumpy bends. My bus-like Mazda 5 on 205/55 R16s is perfect on that route, soaking up the worst of it.
Tags:
wheels and tyres
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